A Baltimore Sun columnist wrote in Monday's paper that Steelers coach Bill Cowher should have been fired for keeping quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the game Sunday. That may seem a little extreme, but extreme is one way to characterize the beating

Roethlisberger took in the Steelers' 27-0 loss. He was sacked a career-high nine times and made the highlights the hard way. Given the head-snapping shot Bart Scott laid on him late in the second quarter, it's a wonder Roethlisberger held the ball.

Roethlisberger didn't see Scott because the inside linebacker blitzed from the blind side.

"I just kind of remember my head hitting the ground," Roethlisberger said. "He just knocked the wind out of me, and I really couldn't breathe very well, so I just have to lay there a second."

Roethlisberger was replaced by Charlie Batch, but he returned to the game at the end of the quarter.

"He seemed all right after talking to him a couple of times," Cowher said of Roethlisberger.

? Willie Parker is 85 yards from becoming the third player in Steelers history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. He managed just 22 yards on 12 carries against the Ravens, marking the second time this season Parker has been held to fewer than 25 rushing yards in a game.

"They were blitzing out of formations they weren't supposed to be blitzing out of," Parker said.

? The Steelers ran just 18 plays in the first half of Sunday's game and were behind, 17-0, at intermission.

"If you want to say we struggled to run, we got behind, and we abandoned it," Steelers guard Alan Faneca said. "If one quarter not being able to run is struggling, then that's what it is."

Digits

2:46 - The Steelers' time of possession in the second quarter Sunday.

27 - Tackles made by the Steelers' four starting linebackers Sunday.

29 - Tackles made by the Steelers' four starting defensive backs Sunday.

130 - Consecutive games in which Hines Ward, who won't play Sunday, has caught at least one pass.

BigDuke6

11-28-2006, 10:46 AM

All the numbers point to a bitter humiliation.

Elvis

11-28-2006, 06:58 PM

:jawdrop:
I KINDA AGREED... I said a little after halftime that they should sit him..:wave: